Marine derrick



1950 s. w. WOODARD 2,520,519

MARINE DERRICK Filed NOV. '7', 1946 .5. w. WOODARD. INVENTOR BY $1454 a M pZMM TORNEYSY Patented Aug. 29, 1950 MARINE DERRICK Stanley W. Woodard, Nassau, Bahama Islands, assigncr to Universal Exploration Company, Houston, Tex, a corporation of Delaware Application November 7, 1946, Serial No. 708,360

1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of transporting such apparatus over a body of water without removing the apparatus from the water.

An object of the invention is to provide a marine derrick to be transported through water.

Another object is to provide a structure capa ble of being positioned in water while in use at such position and movable from one position to another in the water without lifting the apparatus from the water.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a transportable apparatus to enable operators to make geophysical studies over a body of water.

Other and further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an embodiment of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the invention showing the apparatus positioned ready for use in a body of water;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing an embodiment of the invention being moved along the surface of the water.

Previously, to obtain geophysical data say, for example, a gravimetric reading over a body of water, several expensive, prohibitive methods were known and used.

One of such methods is to build a derrick, or tower structure in the water over the position where it is decided to take a reading. After obtaining the reading, the derrick is torn down, moved to a new location and rebuilt. Such procedure entails great expense and time.

As will be more fully described hereinafter, the present invention is to eliminate these difficulties.

A preferred form of the apparatus is shown in Fig. 1 where a plurality of inclined upright members 2 are connected together by a series of cross members 3, 4, 5, and 6, which members also serve as brace members to form the elemental base structure.

A plate I connected between the two adjacent upright members 2 is shown as extending laterally the full distance between the two uprights and longitudinally for at least a portion of the distance between the lower end 8 and the upper end 9 of the structure.

A cross plate Ill, laterally affixed at the upper end 9 of the frame to at least one of the upright members 2 presents a support surface I2 for equipment.

A rope l4 connected at l to one of the upright members 2 is in turn connected to a davit, or cathead It in the boat I"! which serves as a means to tow the derrick as will be more fully described.

In operation, the derrick, or structure will be secured by the rope M to the davit [6 of the boat ll. When first secured, the derrick will tend to sink as shown in Fig. 2 however, as the vessel l1 moves forward the top 9 of the derrick may come to rest on the stern, or fantail I 8, of the vessel. The force of the water against the plate I will create a planing or hydroplane effect to elevate the base of the derrick upwardly off the sea floor 20 to a position near the surface 2! of the water 22 as seen in Figure 3.

As long as the vessel continues to move forward sufficiently fast, the derrick will remain near the surface as seen in Fig. 3. When a different location has been reached where readings are desired, the vessel I? is stopped, causing the derrick to sink due to its weight. As the derrick sinks, the vessel I! can be given rear speed which in turn will tend to position the derrick at 23 on the sea floor 20.

The operator may then climb onto the derrick with his equipment and place such equipment on the cross plate ll]. After completing the operation at this location, the operator climbs back abord the vessel I1, the ship, or vessel, 1! is then moved forward to seat the upper part 9 of the derrick on the fantail l8 and to lift the derrick near the surface of the water.

As shown, the apparatus is constructed in a tripod with only cross bars to serve as braces. It seems obvious that the apparatus may be of any shape and size and structural strength which would be suitable for the purpose intended.

Broadly, the invention contemplates a marine derrick structure that is movable from one location to another in a body of water without removing the derrick from the water while transporting from one location to the other.

The invention claimed is:

A tower for water surveying comprising a plurality of upwardly converging legs, braces therebetween, a planing plate between two adjacent legs in the plane thereof to be disposed at a relatively shallow inclination in the water when the tower is tilted and towed thru the water by a pull upon the upper end.

STANLEY W. WODDARD.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Kirby June 10, 1947 Number 

